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Sheriff: Enter 2020 with perfect vision for safety

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
A stationary blood alcohol content machine at the Webster County Law Enforcement Center is used to analyze the breath of those arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Officers often first use field tests, a portable Breathalyzer and other observations to determine a driver’s intoxication.

As you ring in the new year at midnight, members of law enforcement remind the public not to put safety in the rear view mirror.

“We want people to enjoy themselves, but also be responsible and safe for everyone on the road,” said Webster County Sheriff Jim Stubbs.

Because after the ball drops, you don’t want to drop the ball by getting behind the wheel intoxicated.

Though drunk driving spikes around the holidays have declined more in recent years, officers on patrol still watch the streets carefully for motorists operating while intoxicated.

“Be very responsible and conscientious of how much you’ve had to drink during the course of the evening,” Stubbs said. “It doesn’t take that many drinks to be over the legal limit.”

That limit is .08%, but officers and deputies can arrest those showing signs of impairment even if they blow below that limit on a breath test. Those drinking are advised to put the matter to bed before the countdown by simply having a designated driver.

“People are getting smarter about their habits,” said Fort Dodge Police Chief Roger Porter. “OWIs can ruin some careers, so it’s not worth it.”

Stubbs said the decline in OWI activity over the last eight to 10 years is thanks to a combination of educational efforts and word of mouth about the stiff penalties from those who have been convicted.

Porter said that with colleges on break and more folks visiting home for the holidays, extra foot traffic can mean more chances of someone getting hurt when an intoxicated driver is on the road.

Warmer weather also encourages more traffic, Stubbs said.

Those who are intoxicated but not planning to drive should stay away from the car. Just putting the key in the ignition can be enough to warrant an OWI charge, Stubbs said, even to warm up the car.

“If the keys are in it and you’re in the driver’s seat, you can be charged,” he said.

Those who are pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving and refuse a Breathalyzer test will face consequences, too. Drivers licenses can be revoked for up to one year for those who refuse, versus six months for those who comply with the test. And refusing to blow doesn’t mean you’re clear of a charge or conviction.

“The arrest will be based on the officer’s observations,” Porter said.

For those planning to enjoy the night sober: remember to drive carefully in winter weather.

If you can avoid driving in questionable weather, please do. If you must be out, remember a few of these tips.

Always allow yourself enough time to get to where you need to be. Being in a rush can be the biggest danger when road conditions aren’t ideal.

“It’s not summer driving,” Stubbs reminds motorists. “You’re going to endanger yourself and others” if you treat it as such.

Having a four-wheel drive vehicle is not enough to throw caution to the wind.

Porter suggests keeping an eye on the weather and on the Police Department’s Facebook page, where important announcements and reminders about local conditions are posted.

If approaching an icy patch of road or a bridge, let off the accelerator pedal. Give yourself ample distance to come to a full stop, and don’t turn too quickly.

Remember that roads can freeze even if the temperature is above freezing, and that bridges freeze before roads.

Don’t use cruise control in poor conditions, either.

Stubbs said that in particularly bad weather and road conditions, rescue crews may have difficulty getting to you. He advises drivers to keep extra warm clothing in their vehicle.

If you hit ice, don’t panic. Do not brake hard or attempt to overcorrect, should you enter the shoulder of the road or exit your lane. Try to steer into a skid on the ice for more control.

To guarantee no trouble at all, the sheriff joked that drivers can alternately “wear a safety belt on your recliner and never leave.”

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